Genes for biosynthesis of tetracycline compounds and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to tetracycline products produced by genetically engineered cells, and to therapeutic methods using such tetracyclines. The present invention is based on the cloning and heterologous expression of genes encoding the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/536,622 filed Aug. 6, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,361,777, which claims the benefit of EP Application No. 08014141.9 filed Aug. 7, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to genetically engineered cells, and to proteins and genes useful in the production of tetracycline compounds, to methods of producing tetracycline compounds, and to tetracyclines thereby produced. The present invention is based on the cloning and heterologous expression of genes encoding the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tetracyclines are a large group of drugs with a common basic structure consisting of four linearly fused six-membered rings. Chlortetracycline isolated from Streptomyces aureofaciens was introduced in 1948 and oxytetracycline, derived from Streptomyces rimosus, was introduced in 1950 (Projan et al., 2006. SIM News 55, 52-60). Tetracycline and 6-demethyl-7-chlortetracycline (demethylchlortetracycline), both produced by Streptomyces aureofaciens, are two additional tetracycline compounds produced by fermentation process. A number of semi-synthetic tetracyclines generated by chemical modification of tetracycline or demeclocycline and with improved pharmacological properties, have been generated over the years such as methacycline, doxycycline and minocycline. Recently, a novel semisynthetic analogue, tigecyclin, derived from minocycline has been licensed for treatment of bacterial infections (Chopra et al., Roberts M. 2001. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev; 65:232-260). Tetracyclines were the first broad-spectrum antibiotics. They are effective against a variety of microorganisms and are thus often used indiscriminately. Tetracyclines bind reversibly to the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome in a position that blocks the binding of the aminoacyl-tRNA to the acceptor site on the mRNA-ribosome complex. They are bacteriostatic for many gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including some anaerobes, for rickettsiae, chlamidiae, mycoplasmas and L-forms, and for some protozoan parasites. The widespread use of tetracyclines has led to the emergence of resistance even among highly susceptible species such as pneumococci and group A streptococci. For this reason a novel antibacterial is needed; tetracyclines, as relatively safe antibiotics, still represent potentially useful candidates for antibacterial drug discovery programmes. The tetracycline analogue doxycycline has been used for decades for the inhibition of the malaria-causing Plasmodium falciparum. Novel tetracycline (TC) analogues have been developed in the past (Projan et al., 2006. SIM News 55, 52-60). A small group of TC analogues, of which the primary target is not a bacterial ribosome, such as chelocardin and 6-thiatetracycline, have been isolated or synthesised (Chopra I. 2004. Antimicrob Agents Chemother; 38(4):637-40).

This small group of TC analogues are bactericidal, rather than bacteriostatic. Their mode of action is clearly not oriented towards a bacterial ribosome. It is believed that the primary target of these small group of tetracycline analogues, such as chelocardin, is the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, hence the activity of these compounds against tetracycline resistant strains. This has been suggested in the study by Olivia et al. (1992, Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 36(5): 913-919), in which the activities of these tetracycline analogues were examined against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains containing determinants for efflux Tet(B) and Tet(K) or ribosomal protection Tet(M). Chopra et al. (2001, Curr Opin Pharmacol. 1(5):464-9) have demonstrated that Tet(B) and Tet(M) determinants in E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus offer little or no protection against the tetracycline analogues chelocardin and 6-thiatetracycline, thus representing an interesting antibacterial activity. Unfortunately, the clinical trials conducted with one of these atypical TCs (6-thiatetracycline) have revealed adverse side-effects. LD50 of both, 6-thiatetracycline and chelocardin, obtained in acute toxicity studies in mice, are considerably lower than those obtained by classical TCs, possibly reflecting the membrane-disruptive properties of atypical TCs. In view of this potential mode of action it is not surprising that the atypical TCs exhibit activity against TC-resistant strains. Therefore, the use of atypical TCs (such as chelocardin) can not be considered because of their potential for causing side effects. Selected tetracycline analogues have also displayed potent antifungal activity. Several chemically modified tetracycline analogues (CMTs), which were chemically modified to eliminate their antibacterial efficacy, such as CMT3, were found to have potent antifungal properties (Liu et al., 2002, Antimicrob agents chemother 46, 1447-1454).

Tetracycline analogues, including the medically important tetracycline analogues, show other, non-antibacterial pharmacological properties, therefore showing useful activity for the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's, Huntington's) and autoimmune condition multiple sclerosis (Domercq and Matute, 2004, Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2004. 25(12):609-12, Brundula et al., 2002, Brain 125: 1297-308). In addition, some of the TCs inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, tumour invasion and metastasis (cancer development/progression) (Fife et al., 2000, Cancer Lett. 29; 153(1-2):75-8). Pathologies that are responsive to tetracycline compounds include inflammatory process-associated states. The term “inflammatory process-associated state” includes states involving inflammation or inflammatory factors such as MMPs.

Some of these MMPs break down fibrillar collagens and are known as collagenases (e.g. MMP-1, MMP-8 and MMP-13), some can affect basement membrane collagen (collagen IV) and are known as gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9). Tetracycline analogues can inhibit both collagenases and gelatinases (Peterson J. T. 2004, Heart Fail Rev., 9, 63-79). MMPs-degrading enzymes (e.g. MMP-8, MMP-9), present in the intracellular matrix of tissue facilitate angiogenesis by allowing new blood vessels to penetrate into the matrix. Currently only Periostat® (CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc.), also known as doxycycline, is approved for treatment of adult peridontitis, as an MMP inhibitor. The anti-angiogenic effect of tetracyclines may have therapeutic implications in inflammatory processes accompanied by new blood vessel formation, as it is the case in some stages of autoimmune disorders and cancer invasion. Metastat (Col-3), for example, has demonstrated good results in the treatment of Karposi's sarcoma (Phase II, Dezube et al., 2006, J Clin Oncol. 24(9):1389-94). TCs can also influence bone metabolism. Prophylactic administration of doxycycline reduces the severity of canine osteoarthritis in the dog anterior cruciate model (Yu et al., 1992. Arthritis Rheum. 1992 October; 35(10):1150-9). In a recent experiment it was demonstrated that minocycline, by stimulating new bone formation, prevents the decrease in mineral density (osteoporosis) observed in ovariestomized old rats (Wiliams et al., 1998. Adv Dent Res. 1998 November; 12(2):71-5), suggesting the potential use of TCs in the treatment of osteoporosis. Nevertheless, tetracyclines have been shown to demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties, antiviral properties and immunosuppressive properties. The tetracycline analogue minocycline, for example, is considered as a safe effective treatment for patients with mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis. Tilley et al. 1995 (Ann Intern Med., 122, 2. 1995, 81-89.) carried out a clinical trial in which 109 patients on minocycline were compared to 110 patients on placebo. There was a significant improvement in joint swelling in the treated patients versus the placebo group and also improvement in joint tenderness, with no serious toxicity.

To date, all clinically useful TC antibiotics are either natural products, semisynthetic analogues, or chemically modified molecules, composed of four rings, designated A, B, C, and D (FIG. 1). The recently established crystal structure of tetracycline (TC)-bound 30s subunit (Brodersen et al., 2000, Cell, 103:1143-54.) has revealed that the side of the four-member ring structure of TC molecule, including carbons C1 to C3 and C10 to C12 (“south” and “east” side) interact significantly with the ribosome. Most semisynthetic tetracycline analogues with superior antibacterial activity, such as doxycycline, minocycline and the latest derivative tigecycline, have been modified at the “north-west” side of the tetracycline structure, covering carbons C4 to C9, which is in line with the structure-activity (SAR) results (Brodersen et al., 2000, Cell, 103:1143-54). The structure of chelocardin, in particular, differs from existing biosynthetically-derived natural tetracyclines, thus allowing novel chemistry to be carried out on the tetracycline backbone of chelocardin or modified matrices generated by biosynthetic-engineering approaches, which is the main scope of the invention. Combined synthetic and biosynthetic complementary strategies for novel TC compounds can be applied. The four ring naphtacene nucleus structure of chelocardin and a complex series of oxygen functional groups on the “south” side of the molecule fulfil the minimal structural requirements for bioactivity against both bacterial and mammalian targets. However, the structure of chelocardin is extremely non-polar, compared to other biosynthetic TC derivatives, which is a consequence of the lack of hydroxyl groups at positions C5 and C6, and the replacement of the amino group of the amide moiety at the position C2 with acyl. An addition, the methyl-group at the position C9 further enhances the non-polar properties of chelocardin at the same time altering/broadening the spectrum of biological targets, not only limited to bacterial cells. On the other hand, the free amino-group, not found “unprotected” in other natural tetracycline analogues introduces a degree of polarity. At the same time, it is one of the most useful functional groups that can be readily derivatized by a chemical synthesis approach, introducing changes in solubility, lipophilicity and new binding affinities into the molecule.

In the past, extensive data on the structure-activity relationship of TCs have been generated, showing that the molecular structure and functionality of different TCs allows them to be “chemically promiscuous” and interact with many macromolecules, hence exerting a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. The present invention is related to the generation of novel TC analogues based on chelocardin itself and/or chelocardin analogues generated by methods of biosynthetic engineering, biotransformation and/or semisynthetic approaches. A more detailed description of the present invention is provided herein below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the chemical structure of chelocardin.

FIG. 2 shows the cloning of the pLUS02 cosmid used for constructing a genomic library of A. sulphurea.

FIG. 3 shows the chelocardin biosynthesis pathway, according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows the chelocardin biosynthetic gene cluster, and genes involved in chelocardin production. These are drawn as full arrows. The three genes on the left side of the cluster (white arrows) are involved in the B12 biosynthesis, coding for cobalamin biosynthesis protein, cobyric acid synthase 1 and cobyric acid synthase 2 (in order from left to right). On the right side of the chelocardin cluster genes (gray arrows), there are again several genes presumably not involved in the chelocardin biosynthesis. Restriction sites within the nucleotide sequence of the chelocardin cluster are marked as E=EcoRI, H=HindIII, B=BglII, S=SphI, N=NcoI, Sac=SacI, S3AI=Sau3AI.

FIG. 5 shows a generic tetracycline structure based on the chelocardin tetracycline backbone.

FIG. 6 shows preferred groups of enzymes of the invention, together with their respective biosynthetic products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the application of biosynthetic engineering for the heterologous expression of an entire gene cluster for the biosynthesis of chelocardin or its analogues, either produced by Amycolatopsis sulphurea ATCC NRRL2822 or heterologously expressed in a surrogate host. The chelocardin gene cluster is cloned and can be expressed in a heterologous actinomycete host such as Streptomyces lividans, Streptomyces albus, Streptomyces rimosus, Amycolatopsis orientalis and Nocardia spp.

The present invention relates to processes and materials (including protein kits, DNA kits, nucleic acids, vectors and cells and cultures) for the heterologous expression of various Type-II polyketide gene clusters, such as the one involved in the biosynthesis of chelocardin. The present invention also relates to the preparation of novel substituted tetracycline compounds. The invention provides the entire nucleic acid sequence of the biosynthetic gene cluster for chelocardin production in Amycolatopsis sulphurea, and the use of all or part of the cloned DNA to produce novel chelocardin analogues in Amycolatopsis sulphurea or surrogate hosts. A previously unknown biosynthetic pathway for the biosynthesis of chelocardin was identified (see FIG. 3). New drug candidates can be obtained by the genetic manipulation of the discovered biosynthetic genes. Additional genes or inactivation of selected chelocardin-pathway encoding genes is used to modify the structure of the obtained tetracycline compound. Cells and nucleic acids of the invention can be used for the preparation of modified chelocardin molecules with alternative biological activities, such as antibacterial, antimalarial, antitumor, etc. agents.

Tetracycline compounds of the present invention are useful for treatment of bacterial and fungal infections, treatment of malaria, as a therapeutic in the treatment of inflammatory process-associated states such as cancer, periodontitis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune condition multiple sclerosis and other pharmacological activities/pathologies such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's disease & Huntington's disease). The use of products produced by method of the current invention for the treatment of any of the medical indications stated above is also covered by the present invention.

The present invention also relates to a treatment for inhibiting microbial, fungal, antiviral and tumour growth, tumour invasion and metastasis, malaria causing protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, and for a treatment of pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and useful activity for the treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's, Huntington's). Chelocardin-derived matrices generated this way are useful for generating potential compounds or intermediates suitable for further modification by semi-synthetic or biotransformation approach. Designer tetracycline analogues can be applied using a rational approach by modifying the initiation module in the biosynthetic route in order to replace the methyl group of the acyl moiety at the position C2 with an amino group, thus resulting in an amide moiety. A number of positions on the chelocardin skeleton, such as positions C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 and C9 can likely be modified using a rational or a combinatorial biosynthetic approach as well as a biotransformation approach, in order to produce novel TC-matrices, suitable substrates for further chemical modifications. Using combined approaches, biosynthetic and synthetic approaches, numerous chelocardin tetracycline analogues, with potential novel activity can be generated.

By applying biosynthetic engineering approach designated positions (R1-R7 and OR; FIG. 5) can be modified by manipulation of DNA sequence encoding chelocardin biosynthesis and its co-expression with heterologous-genes from other tetracycline and more widely aromatic-polyketide (Type II) PKS gene clusters such as oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, tetracenomycin, and others.

The chelocardin biosynthetic pathway according to the invention is shown in FIG. 3. The polyketide skeleton of chelocardin is assembled from an acetoacetate starter unit to which 8 malonate-derived acetate building blocks are attached by the action of the minimal PKS, namely ChdP, ChdK, ChdS. The polyketide chain is further subjected to methylation, C-9 ketoreduction, and cyclisation/aromatisation, by the action of the ChdMI methyltransferase gene, the ChdT ketoreductase, and the ChdQII cyclase/aromatase, respectively. After the cyclisation/aromatisation is completed by ChdQI and ChdX, the nascent aromatic compound is subjected to post-PKS reactions, i.e. oxidations, C-4 amination, and C-9 methylation, catalysed by three oxygenases ChdOI/ChdOII/ChdOIII, aminotransferase ChdN, and methyltransferase ChdMII, respectively.

TABLE 1  Genes of the Chelocardin Gene Cluster SEQ ID Gene Length Length Start Stop NO: Name Gene Function Start Stop (bp) (AA) Codon Codon 1 chdP Ketosynthase-alpha 85 1384 1299 433 GTG TGA 2 chdK Ketosynthase-beta 1408 2635 1227 409 GTG TGA 3 chdS Acyl Carrier Protein 2662 2926 264 88 ATG TGA 4 chdQI Cyclase 3879 2973 906 302 ATG TGA 5 chdQII Cyclase Aromatase 17617 18562 945 315 ATG TGA 6 chdX Cyclase/Aromatase 16635 16183 453 151 ATG TGA 7 chdL Acyl-CoA Ligase 15753 GTG 8 chdT Ketoreductase 16800 17589 789 263 ATG TGA 9 chdOI Oxygenase 11901 13113 1212 404 ATG TGA 10 chdOII Oxygenase 18530 19820 1290 430 ATG TGA 11 chdOIII Oxygenase 14436 14229 207 69 ATG TAG 12 chdMI Methyltransferase 14149 13126 1023 341 ATG TGA 13 chdMII Methyltransferase 4975 3970 1005 335 GTG TGA 14 chdN Aminotransferase 11724 10425 1299 433 GTG TGA 15 chdGIV Glycosyltransferase 5162 6359 1197 399 ATG TGA 16 chdTn Transposase 6584 8099 1515 505 ATG TGA 17 chdR Exporter 9686 8243 1443 481 ATG TGA 18 chdA Transcriptional Regulator 9836 10406 570 190 GTG TAA

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

“% identity”, within the context of the present invention shall be understood the % identity of two sequences as calculated by the NCBI/BLAST (blastx or blastp) algorithm using the default parameters as set by the NCBI (Altschul et al., 1990, J Mol Biol, 215, 403-10).

“Stringent conditions”, within the meaning of the invention, shall be understood as being the stringent conditions as set forth according to Sambrook et al. (2^(nd) ed., 1989, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)

A “tetracycline compound” according to the invention is a compound having the chemical structure shown in FIG. 5, with R1-R7 and OR being arbitrary substituents. Preferred tetracyclines of the inventions are those specifically disclosed herein.

A “genetically engineered cell”, within the meaning of the invention, is a cell which is modified by purposeful application of recombinant DNA technology to provide said cell with modified biochemical properties.

A “genetically engineered biosynthetic pathway”, within the meaning of the invention, is a biosynthetic pathway which is modified by purposeful application of recombinant DNA technology, wherein said purposeful application of recombinant DNA technology involves addition of further genes/proteins/reactions to the pathway, and/or the deletion or inactivation of genes/proteins/reactions from the pathway, in order to obtain a modified biosynthetic pathway having improved performance or a modified biosynthetic pathway product.

A “catalytic function” of a polypeptide is understood to be the ability of said polypeptide to catalyse a certain biochemical reaction, or biological process.

A “gene cluster”, within the meaning of the invention, shall be understood to be a totality of DNA coding for polypeptides required to catalyse a certain biochemical pathway. A gene cluster can be on a single DNA molecule, or can be on multiple DNA molecules, e.g. in form of a DNA library.

The present invention relates to a genetically engineered cell,

-   -   said cell being capable of producing a tetracycline compound,     -   said tetracycline being produced by said cell by a genetically         engineered biosynthetic pathway,     -   wherein said genetically engineered biosynthetic pathway         includes at least one reaction catalysed by a polypeptide         selected from the group consisting of:     -   (a) a polypeptide of the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway, said         polypeptide having the sequence of any of SEQ ID NO:1 to 18;     -   (b) a polypeptide which is at least 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%,         or 100% identical to a polypeptide of (a), wherein said         polypeptide being 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, or 100% identical         has the same catalytic function as said polypeptide of (a).

This genetically engineered cell is thus purposefully engineered to provide a modified tetracycline biosynthetic pathway, which pathway includes at least one of the previously unknown genes of the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway provided by the present invention.

Engineered cells of the invention may comprise a single one of the newly found genes or proteins of the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway, or they may include multiple or all of said newly found genes or proteins of the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway (SEQ ID NO:1 to 18). The person skilled in the art appreciates that any one of the genes or proteins of the present invention can be substituted or replaced by homologous genes, if these genes show the same catalytic function. Genetically engineered cells comprising such homologous genes or polypeptides are thus also an aspect of the invention.

The invention further relates to a genetically engineered cell as described above, wherein said genetically engineered biosynthetic pathway of said cell further includes at least one reaction catalysed by a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of

-   -   (c) a polypeptide of any of SEQ ID NO:19 to 26;     -   (d) polypeptide which is at least 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, or         100% identical to a polypeptide of any of SEQ ID NO:19 to 26,         wherein said polypeptide being 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, or         100% identical has the same catalytic function as said         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:19-26.

Polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:19-26 are previously known enzymes the catalytic function of which can advantageously be applied in genetically engineered cells of the above described type. Notably, addition of these polypeptides allows to produce modified tetracycline compounds, such as e.g. the structures shown in the present application denoted Structure 1 to Structure 10, below.

The present invention further relates to a genetically engineered cell of the above kind, wherein said genetically engineered biosynthetic pathway of said cell includes all reactions catalysed by a polypeptide of a group consisting of

-   -   (c) a polypeptide of any of SEQ ID NO:1 to 8;     -   (d) polypeptide which is at least 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, or         100% identical to a polypeptide of any of SEQ ID NO:1 to 8,         wherein said polypeptide being 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, or         100% identical has the same catalytic function as said         polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1-8.

Polypeptides according to SEQ ID NO:1-8 represent a minimum set of proteins capable of producing the core tetracycline compound shown as Structure 10. Genetically engineered cells of this type can also be used as a starting point for the purposeful manipulation of such cells, to produce modified tetracycline compounds.

The present invention also relates to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (a) a polypeptide of the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway, said         polypeptide having the sequence of any of SEQ ID NO:1 to 18;     -   (b) a polypeptide which is at least 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%,         or 100% identical to a polypeptide of the chelocardin         biosynthetic pathway having a sequence of any of SEQ ID NO:1 to         18, wherein said polypeptide being 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, or         100% identical has the same catalytic function as said         polypeptide of the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway.

Such polypeptides of the chelocardin biosynthetic pathway are not previously not known. They can be used, individually or in combination, for the creation of new genetically engineered cells having modified tetracycline biosynthetic pathways, thus producing useful tetracycline compounds. In particular, they are useful for producing genetically engineered cells of the above described kind.

The present invention also relates to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide of the above described kind. Such nucleic acid can be in form of a single DNA molecule, or can be in form of multiple DNA molecules, or can be in form of a gene library, or can be in form of a plasmid, or in form of multiple plasmids. Such nucleic acid can be in isolated form, or can be recombinant DNA.

The present invention also relates to an entire gene cluster encoding a tetracycline biosynthetic pathway, said gene cluster comprising nucleic acid coding for

-   -   (a) polypeptides according to each one of SEQ ID NO:1 to 8, or     -   (b) polypeptides which are at least 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%,         or 100% identical to each one of SEQ ID NO:1 to 8, wherein said         polypeptides being 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, or 100% identical         have the same catalytic function as said polypeptides of SEQ ID         NO:1 to 8.

Said gene cluster in preferably in isolated form.

The present invention further relates to a gene cluster of the above described kind, said gene cluster further comprising nucleic acid coding for a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (c) polypeptides according to SEQ ID NO:9 to 18, and     -   (d) polypeptides which are at least 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%,         or 100% identical to SEQ ID NO:9 to 18, wherein said polypeptide         being 80%, 90%, 95%, 99%, 99.9%, or 100% identical have the same         catalytic function as said polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:9 to 18.

The present invention further relates to a method for the biosynthetic production of a tetracycline compound, said method comprising the steps of

-   -   providing a genetically engineered cell of the above described         kind,     -   providing a substrate compound,     -   incubating said substrate compound with said genetically         engineered cell under permissible conditions, and     -   obtaining said tetracycline compound.

The present invention further relates to a tetracycline compound produced by this method.

The present invention further relates to a tetracycline compound of the above described kind, wherein said compound has a structure selected from the group consisting of

The present invention also relates to the individual compounds of Structure 1 to Structure 10.

It will be understood by the person skilled in the art that the exact position of double bonds in the above structures is cannot not always be exactly defined, due to spontaneous chemical rearrangement and/or possible tautomeric forms/isomers which can also influence the oxidative states of hydroxyl and keto groups at carbons 10, 11, 12 and carbon 1. It is understood that reference to the above structures, within the context of the present application, also refers to their tautomeric forms and isoforms, as explained above.

The present invention also relates to the use of these compounds for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections, treatment of malaria, a neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's, disease, periodontitis, an autoimmune condition, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, tumour invasion, cancer and inflammatory states.

The present invention further relates to the use of a genetically engineered cell of the above described kind for the production of a medicament for treatment of bacterial or fungal infections, treatment of malaria, a neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's, disease, periodontitis, an autoimmune condition, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, tumour invasion, cancer and inflammatory states.

Polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:9-11 are oxygenases and are used in the production of Structures 1-9 as set out in FIG. 6 in the present invention. At least one of these enzymes is preferably included in a genetically engineered cell of the invention.

Polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:12-15 are also present in the wild type chelocardin biosynthetic gene cluster, thus, they are naturally optimized to co-operate with proteins of SEQ ID NO:1-11. At least one of these enzymes is preferably included in a genetically engineered cell of the invention.

Polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:16-18 are enzymes not involved in the biosynthetic pathway, but supporting the functioning of the enzymes of the SEQ ID NO:1-8 in a cellular environment (e.g. by transporting metabolites across cell membranes, by providing resistance to the final product, by activation of protein expression, and by other favourable effects). At least one of these enzymes is preferably included in a genetically engineered cell of the invention.

Polypeptides of SEQ ID NO:19-26 are heterologous enzymes not comprised in the wild type chelocardin biosynthetic gene cluster. They can be use to design and construct further tetracycline structures with improved properties, as exemplified in FIG. 6 of the present application. At least one of these enzymes is preferably included in a genetically engineered cell of the invention.

The present invention also relates to the (previously unknown) proteins according to SEQ ID NO:1-18 as such, and to DNA molecules encoding the same.

Methods of the invention are preferably conducted in a bioreactor or in a fermenter.

In the accompanying sequence listing,

SEQ ID NO:1 codes for ChdP,

SEQ ID NO:2 codes for ChdK,

SEQ ID NO:3 codes for ChdS,

SEQ ID NO:4 codes for ChdQI,

SEQ ID NO:5 codes for ChdQII,

SEQ ID NO:6 codes for ChdX,

SEQ ID NO:7 codes for ChdL,

SEQ ID NO:8 codes for ChdT,

SEQ ID NO:9 codes for ChdOI,

SEQ ID NO:10 codes for ChdOII,

SEQ ID NO:11 codes for ChdOIII,

SEQ ID NO:12 codes for ChdMI,

SEQ ID NO:13 codes for ChdMII,

SEQ ID NO:14 codes for ChdN,

SEQ ID NO:15 codes for ChdGIV,

SEQ ID NO:16 codes for ChdTn,

SEQ ID NO:17 codes for ChdR,

SEQ ID NO:18 codes for ChdA,

SEQ ID NO:19 codes for OxyD,

SEQ ID NO:20 codes for OxyT,

SEQ ID NO:21 codes for OxyE,

SEQ ID NO:22 codes for OxyL,

SEQ ID NO:23 codes for OxyS,

SEQ ID NO:24 codes for OxyG

SEQ ID NO:25 codes for Cts4, and SEQ ID NO:26 codes for TcmO.

Envisaged are further tetracycline compounds of FIG. 5 having the following substituents:

-   R1: CH₃ or NH₂ (otc homologue oxyD (Zhang et. al., 2006, Appl.     Environ. Microbiol., 72(4):2573-2580); Zhang et al., 2007, J Biol.     Chem. 282(35):25727-25) -   R2: NH2 or OH. or N(CH3)₂ (inactivation of chdN or co-expression     with oxyT (Zhang et. al., 2006, Appl. Environ. Microbiol.,     72(4):2573-2580); Zhang et al., 2007, J Biol. Chem.     282(35):25727-25) -   R3: H or OH (otc co-expression with oxyE/oxL/oxyS/oxyG (Zhang et.     al., 2006, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72(4):2573-2580); Zhang et     al., 2007, J Biol. Chem. 282(35):25727-25) -   R4: CH3 or H or/and OH (inactivation of chdMI or co-expression with     oxyxE/oxyL/oxyS/(otcC)/oxyG (Peric-Concha et al., 2005, J. Biol.     Chem.; 280(45):37455-60; Zhang et al., 2007, J Biol. Chem.     282(35):25727-25). -   R5: H or Cl (ctc co-expression with chl (cts4) (Dairi et al, 1995,     Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 59(6):1099-106)) -   R6: H -   R7: CH3 or H (inactivation of chdMII) -   OR: OH or OCH3

EXAMPLES Example 1 Cloning of the Chelocardin Gene Cluster

The cloning the chelocardin cluster starts with isolating a PCR template DNA of a chelocardin producer, Amycolatopsis sulphurea (NRRL2822), followed by a PCR using degenerate primers based on universally conserved motifs of Type-II acyl-ketosynthase alpha (KSα) (Metsa-Ketela et al., 1999, FEMS Microbiol Lett.; 180(1):1-6). The partial KSα nucleotide sequence of the PCR product was confirmed by sequencing. The PCR product was used as a probe against BamHI, SacI, BglII, SphI, EcoRI, and NcoI total restriction digests of A. sulphurea genomic DNA. An 8 kb EcoRI-fragment that gave a positive result after Southern hybridization with a DIG-labelled KSα PCR probe was the most suitable for generating a shotgun library in pUC19. A shotgun library of app. 8 kb EcoRI digests of A. sulphurea genomic DNA was created in pUC19. On the basis of colony hybridization with the KSα probe, the 8 kb E1-E2 insert (FIG. 4) was selected for sequencing.

The E1-E2 insert of the pLUC10E (FIG. 4) contains the genes clearly coding for a Type-II polyketide cluster, namely: KSα, KSβ, ACP, cyclase/aromatase, and methyltransferase. Within that same insert, the genes involved in B 12 vitamin biosynthesis were also found, namely cobyric acid synthase 1, cobyric acid synthase 2, and the cobalymin biosynthesis enzyme (FIG. 4).

Anticipating that the Type-II polyketide chelocardin cluster is less than 30 kb in size, a cosmid library was constructed in E. coli XL1-Blue MR from genomic DNA derived from a chelocardin producer, Amycolatopsis sulphurea (NRRL 2822). The cosmid library was screened by colony hybridization using a single KSα probe obtained by PCR using degenerated oligonucleotides, generated on the basis of conserved KSα nucleotide sequences (Metsa-Ketela et al., 1999, FEMS Microbiol Lett.; 180(1):1-6).

An integrative conjugative cosmid vector pLUS02 (FIG. 2) was first constructed as a tool to create a cosmid library and to speed up the subsequent conjugation and heterologous expression of the many positive clones, found by colony hybridization using a single probe.

The pLUS02 cosmid was used as the basis for the Amycoltopsis sulphurea genomic library. For constructing the pLUS02 (FIG. 2), the commercial SuperCos1 vector (Stratagene) that contains an E. coli origin of replication, a selectable drug resistance marker, and the cos sites of phage lambda was used. SuperCos1 itself cannot be transferred between E. coli and Streptomyces, and is unable to replicate in Streptomyces. To circumvent this deficit, SuperCos1 was upgraded with the insertion of the “oriT, attP, int” cassette. The oriT of an IncP transmissible plasmid promotes the transfer of DNA by conjugation from an E. coli donor strain to an Streptomyces/Actinomyces host recipient. The attP and the integrase from actinophage ΦC31 enable the site-specific integration of the conjugated DNA into the phage attachment site in a Streptomyces chromosome (Bierman et al., 1992, Gene 116:43-49). Therefore, no additional subcloning is needed for heterologous expression after identifying the relevant cosmids within the cosmid library.

By upgrading the commercial SuperCos1 vector with the “oriT, attP, int” cassette, we created a vector pLUS02 that enables us to carry out faster and easier functional analyses of multiple cosmids. The cloning capacity of the 11.6 kb pLUS02 cosmid vector is 33.4 kb, which, together with other properties, renders this tool suitable for cloning and heterologous expression of the many Type-II polyketide clusters.

The pLUS02-based genomic library of Amycolatopsis sulphurea was screened for the presence of the chelocardin gene cluster using a Type-II PKS probe (KSα). Eighteen positive clones were selected out of 1600 colonies that were hybridized. At this point, additional PCR screening was performed using the primers based on the pLUC10E, selecting the clones that did not have a cobyric acid synthase 2 (left side of the chelocardin gene cluster, FIG. 4), while at the same time did contain a methyltransferase (ChdMII, FIG. 4). On the basis of the PCR screen and end-sequencing of the cosmids, the VII C4 cosmid was selected, sequenced, and roles of the gene products were determined in silico.

The genes involved in the biosynthesis of chelocardin have been heterologously expressed in different Streptomyces and non-streptomycete hosts. For the production, vegetative and production media, together with the method for extraction, were optimized for the strains.

An HPLC method was carried out to collect fractions of the extracts of the chosen host productive strains carrying the entire gene cluster encoding for chelocardin biosynthesis. Biological activities of the fractions were tested against Micrococcus luteus. The active fractions were subjected to further MS/MS analysis which confirmed the presence of a sodium adduct of chelocardin with a corresponding mass of m/z=413 and a proton adduct m/z=412.

Example 2 Isolation of Amycolatopsis Sulphurea Genomic DNA

A 10% innoculum of Amycolatopsis sulphurea NRRL 2822 strain was grown in 25 mL of Tryptone Soy Broth (Oxoid) at 30° C. for 24 h. The mycelium was washed two times in 25 ml of TES buffer (25 mM Tris-HCl, pH8; 50 mM EDTA, pH8; 0.3 M Sucrosis), resuspended in 5 mL of TES buffer supplemented with 4 mg/mL Lyzozyme (Sigma) and 100 μg/mL RNase (Sigma), and incubated at 37° C. for one hour. Then, 170 μA of 10% SDS was added, followed by the addition of 800 μL of 0.5 M EDTA (pH8) and 20 μL of Proteinase K (Sigma). After a 30 minute incubation at 37° C., 500 μL of 10% SDS was added. After one hour of incubation at 37° C., 3 mL of TE buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH8; 1 mM EDTA, pH8), 2 mL of 5 M NaCl and 5 mL of TNE buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH8; 100 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH8) were added, followed by phenol/chloroform (1:1) extractions and ethanol precipitation. The DNA was eluted in 1 mL of TE buffer. The sufficient purity and size of DNA were assayed by gel electrophoresis.

Example 3 Generating a Probe to be Used in the Search for Chelocardin Gene Cluster

A homologous hybridization probe for screening A. sulphurea genomic DNA for chelocardin was generated by PCR using degenerated oligonucleotide primers. The primers were designed to amplify a fragment of Type-II ketosynthase alpha (KSα) gene (Metsa-Ketela et al., 1999, FEMS Microbiol Lett.; 180(1):1-6), namely: PKSF: 5′-TSGCSTGCTTCGAYGCSATC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:27), and PKSR: 5′-TGGAANCCGCCGAABCCGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:28), where S═C or G; Y═C or T; B=C, G or T and N=A, T, C or G.

The PCR conditions for the amplification of KS genes were as follows. About 10 ng of purified DNA template, 1 pmol of each primer, 0.5 mM dNTP, 10% DMSO, 1× Taq polymerase reaction buffer, 2 mM MgCl₂, 1 μL Taq DNA Polymerase were used in the final reaction volume of 50 μL. The PCR reaction started with a longer denaturation phase (5′/95° C.) before adding Taq Polymerase. Thirty cycles were set as follows: denaturation (1′/95° C.), annealing (1′/64° C.) and extension (1.5′/72° C.). The reaction was ended with a longer final extension (10′/72° C.). The sequence analysis of the PCR products confirmed the KSα sequence. The products were DIG-labelled according to the kit manufacturer (Roche) and used as a probe for Southern hybridization.

Example 4 Southern Blots and DNA Hybridization

The DIG-labelled KSα PCR product was used for hybridization against the BamHI, SacI, BglII, SphI, EcoRI, and NcoI total restriction digests of A. sulphurea genomic DNA, separated by gel electrophoresis (0.8% gel, for 20 h at 25V). The DNA was transferred to the positively charged Hybond-N+ membrane (Amersham Pharmacia) according to the manufacturer.

Prehybridization and hybridization were performed at 46° C., then washed two times for 15 minutes in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at room temperature and two times for 5 minutes in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 45° C. The approximately 8 kb EcoRI fragment proved to be the most suitable for creating a shotgun library.

Example 5 Generating a Shotgun Library

A high quality A. sulphurea genomic DNA was completely digested with the restriction endonuclease EcoRI and size fractionated by gel electrophoresis (1% agarose gel, 1.5 V/cm, 20 h). The separated DNA was excised from the gel in several layers, covering 6-10 kb fragments. Each layer of DNA was extracted from the gel using Wizard SV Gel and PCR Clean-Up System (Promega). A fraction of each isolate was run on a fresh gel (1% agarose, 5 V/cm, 2 h), transferred to a Hybond-N+ membrane (Amersham Pharmacia) and hybridized again using the same KSα probe to select for the samples with the highest concentration of the desired 8 kb fragment with the chelocardin cluster. The selected sample was used in a cloning reaction with a dephosphorylated pUC19/EcoRI. The ligation mix was transformed into electrocompetent E. coli DH10β and the shotgun library was searched for the presence of genes from the chelocardin cluster by colony hybridization.

For colony hybridization, cells from single colonies after transformation were inoculated on a positively charged Hybond-N+ membrane (Amersham Pharmacia), placed on top of a layer of 2TY agar (Tryptone 16 g; Yeast extract 10 g; NaC15 g pH 7.0), supplemented with ampicillin (100 mg/L). After an overnight incubation at 37° C., the membrane with grown colonies was put sequentially on Whatman papers, soaked in

-   -   10% SDS for 5 minutes,     -   0.5 M NaOH; 1.5 M NaCl for 10 minutes     -   1.5 M NaCl; 0.5 M Tris-HCl (pH7.5) for 10 minutes     -   2×SSC for 10 minutes.

Then the membrane was washed in 2×SSC containing 200 μg/mL Proteinase K for approximately one hour. Colony debris was removed with a gloved finger. The membrane was briefly washed in 2×SSC, air-dried, and baked at 80° C. for 1-2 hours. Prehybridization and hybridization were performed at 42° C., then washed two times for 15 minutes in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS and two times for 15 minutes in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS, both at 68° C.

Six positive clones obtained from colony hybridization of an 8 kb EcoRI-EcoRI shotgun library were subjected to additional PCR analysis, confirming the presence of KSα, a Southern blot/DNA hybridization using a KSα probe, and end-sequencing of the inserts.

One of the positive plasmids, pLUC10E, was chosen for sequencing by primer walking. The 8 kb EcoRI1-EcoRI2 insert revealed five open reading frames characteristic of the expected Type-II chelocardin gene cluster, namely: KSα, KSb, ACP, cyclase/aromatase, and methyltransferase. As shown in FIG. 3A, the insert also contained 3 genes involved in vitamin B12 biosynthesis, namely cobyric acid synthase, the cobalymin biosynthesis enzyme, and the cobalbumin biosythesis enzyme. This characteristic of the insert shows that this is one end of the cluster, which was exploited as described later.

Example 6 Construction of a Conjugable Integrative Cosmid

The 3.7 kb PvuII-BamHI fragment containing the “oriT, attP, int” cassette from pQ803 (A. Almuteirie, PhD Thesis, 2006, University of Strathclyde) was blunt-ended by Klenow and subcloned into SmaI-linearized and dephosphorylated SuperCos1 (FIG. 2). The efficiency of conjugation of the two cosmids with different orientations of the “oriT, attP, int” cassette, namely pLUS01 and pLUS02, was compared. The conjugation efficiency was expressed as the ratio of exconjugants (S. coelicolor M145) per donor (E. coli ET12567/pUZ8002), both determined by the number of CFU. Repeatedly, the pLUS02 version of the cosmid conjugated at a higher frequency than the pLUS01 version. The pLUS02 cosmid yielded 1.5*10⁻⁶ exconjugants per recipient while the pLUS01 version conjugated at 7.2*10⁻⁶ exconjugants per recipient. Due to this small but consistent difference in conjugation efficiency, the pLUS02 cosmid was selected as tool for creating a genomic library of Amycolatopsis sulphurea.

Example 7 Cloning Packaging and Transduction

DNA isolation was carried out as described earlier (Example 1). A. sulphurea genomic DNA was partially digested with the restriction endonuclease Sau3AI. Optimal digestion conditions to generate large DNA fragments of app. 35 kb size range were empirically determined by conducting a series of digestions, followed by the appropriate scale-up. The DNA was size fractionated by gel electrophoresis, and cloned into the unique BamHI cloning site of a dephosphorylated pLUS02. The in vitro packaging of the ligation mix and the transduction of phage particles into the E. coli host XL1-B1ueMR was done according to the Gigapack III Gold packaging kit supplier (Stratagene). The cosmid pLUS02 was used as a basic tool for the preparation of an Amycolatopsis sp. genomic library. The 11.6 kb pLUS02 cosmid vector contains the lambda cos site to promote packaging of vectors containing approximately 38 to 52 kb DNA fragments in total into phage particles. From the pLUS02-based Amycolatopsis sp. genomic library, 60 cosmids were isolated by an alkaline lysis procedure (Birnboim HC and Doly J. 1979. DNA Nucleic Acids Res. 7:1513-1523). All the cosmids (60 out of 60) within the bank contained an insert of sufficient size to fulfil the phage packaging capacity requirements. The 60 isolated cosmids were digested with EcoRI, the restriction fragments were separated by gel electrophoresis, and the sizes of the cosmids were determined by the Quantity One Gel Doc documentation system. All 60 isolated cosmids showed a highly representative different restriction pattern with an average size of 44.9 kb, which renders the cloning capacity of the vector 33.4 kb in average.

Example 8 Screening for the Chelocardin Cluster by Colony Hybridization

Within the library of 2400 clones, 1600 were screened by colony hybridization, as described previously. Cosmid DNA from approximately 1600 clones was spotted onto a Hybond-N+ membrane (Amersham Pharmacia) and hybridized with random-primed DIG-labelled strain-specific Type II PKS probe (KSα) by the following standard hybridization procedure (Roche). The membranes were prehybridized and hybridized as described.

A subset of 18 positive cosmids that were obtained on the basis of hybridization to the KSα probe was additionally screened via three PCRs. Degenerated KSα primers (Metsa-Ketela et al., 1999, FEMS Microbiol Lett.; 180(1):1-6), methyltransferase (from the chdMII gene, FIG. 4) primers (C-MT1F: 5′-CTGCAGCCACGGCTACTAC-3′ [SEQ ID NO:29], C-MT1R: 5′-GCTCGTAGGTCTTGGTCGAG-3′ [SEQ ID NO:30]), and cobalbumin biosynthesis protein (FIG. 4) primers (CobdoF: 5′-GTGGGCCGACTCGAAGAG-3′ [SEQ ID NO:31], CobdoR: 5′-GGTTGACCAGATCGTCGGTA-3′ [SEQ ID NO:32]) were used in the following 50 μL reaction: 1×Pfu Polymerase buffer, 0.2 mM dNTPs, 4 μM forward- and reverse-primers, 5 μL od DMSO, 1 U of Pfu Polymerase, 1 μL of pLUC10E DNA. The PCR thermal cycles were set as follows: an initial cycle at 95° C. for 2 min, and 30 cycles at 95° C. for 30 s, 59.2° C.-61.5° C. for 30 s, and 72° C. for 2 min, followed by a final extension-cycle at 72° C. for 10 min. The strategy behind the PCR screen was to choose the cosmids that give the KSα and methyltransferase amplification products, but not the cobyric acid synthase product. Southern hybridization and end-sequencing of the selected inserts was also performed, and the VII C4 cosmid was chosen for sequencing.

Example 9 Identification of Gene Function in the Chelocardin Gene Cluster

The open reading frames (ORFs) were analysed with the FramePlot program and gene functions were assigned according to the homology searches in the protein database (BLASTp), supported with the conserved domain searches.

The isolated nucleic acid comprises the genes of the chelocardin gene cluster. As depicted in FIG. 4, the cluster contains 18 genes typical of a Type-II polyketide cluster. Consistently with the chelocardin structure, the cluster is comprised of three genes forming a “so-called” minimal Type-II PKS (KSα, KSβ, ACP), three genes involved in the cyclisation/aromatisation process, two genes for methyltransferases, one gene for aminotransferase, three genes for oxygenases, a gene for a ketoreductase, a gene for an acyl-CoA ligase, a gene for a drug resistance transporter and a transcriptional regulator, as well as a glycosyltransferase and a transposase which are redundant. A brief description of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of chelocardin follows:

ChdP-acyl-ketosynthase alpha

BLASTp sequence analysis shows that the chdP sequence corresponds to a ketosynthase gene characteristic of Type-II PKS clusters. The tcsD keto-acylsynthase gene from the S. auerofaciens chlortetracycline gene cluster showed the highest similarity (77% identity) to the chdP gene. The oxyA gene from the oxytetracycline producer S. rimosus (76% identity), and the spiramycin producer S. spiramyceticus (71% identity) followed in homology. Together with these strains, many other (mostly Type-II) polyketide producers showed more than 70% identities, such as S. echinatus (aranciamycin), S. albofaciens, S. platensis, S. fradiae (urdamycin), S. tendae (cervimycin), S. nogalater (nogalamycin). The cmmP gene, coding for a ketosynthase in S. griseus subsp. griseus shows a 69% identity and is, according to Menendez et al. (2004, Chem. Biol. 11(1):21-32) together with cmmK and cmmS, coding for a minimal PKS, responsible for the 20-C backbone of the glycosylated Type-II polyketide chromomycin. With the e-values ranging down to 4e-142, all BLASTp results strongly suggest that chdP is coding for a keto-acyl synthase alpha (KSα). The N terminal catalytic domain of the ChdP protein harbours a well conserved aa region around the highly conserved active site Cys¹⁷³ (GPVGLVSTGCTSGVDVIGHA [SEQ ID NO:33]) responsible for catalyzing the iterative condensation of the ketoacyl:ACP intermediates. In the C terminus of the protein there is an amino-acid sequence characteristic of the acyltransferase site (VPVSSIKSMVGHSLGAIGSLEVAA [SEQ ID NO:34]) with the active Ser³⁵¹ residue that binds to an acyl chain (Fernandez-Moreno et al., 11992. J Biol. Chem. 267(27):19278-90).

ChdK-acyl-ketosynthase beta

According to BLASTp results, chdK is a keto-acyl synthase beta (KSβ), also named a chain length factor. Similarly as for KSα, S. rimosus, S. aureofaciens, S. chartreusis, S. echinatus, S. antibioticus, S. argillaceus, and S. griseus subsp. griseus return as hits with 73 to 63% aa identity. Ketosynthase domain active-site cysteine residue in ChdK is replaced by a highly conserved glutamine as in KSQ (VSEQ¹⁸¹AGGLD [SEQ ID NO:35]) and in other chain-length factors of type II PKS synthases. According to Bisang et al. (1999, Nature 401, 502-505), the glutamine residue is important both for decarboxylase activity and for polyketide synthesis.

ChdS-acyl-carrier protein

The ChdS has the highest sequence similarity (59% identity) to S. rimosus acyl carrier protein (ACP), and harboures an active Ser⁴¹ residue in the highly conserved motif (LGYDSL [SEQ ID NO:36]), to which phosphopantetheine binds in order to connect the incoming extender unit (Walsh et al., 1997. Curr Opin Chem. Biol. 1(3):309-15).

ChdQI

The deduced chdQI product is involved in cyclisation/aromatization of the polyketide chain. The ChdQI amino acid sequence is most similar to the CmmQI protein from S. griseus subsp. griseus, with 33% identity. The cmmQI product codes for a cyclase/aromatase that would participate in the cyclisation and aromatization of the first ring. It also shows similarity to the S. argillaceus mithramycin aromatase/cyclase (mtmQI), presumably involved in C-7/C12 first ring closure. It also shows similarity to the otcDI (also named oxyK by Zhang et al., 2006, J Nat. Prod. 69(11):1633-6; Zhang et al., 2007, J Biol. Chem. 282(35):25717-25) gene from S. rimosus. The otcDI product was identified as a bifunctional cyclase/aromatase (Petkovie et al., 1999. J Biol. Chem. 274(46):32829-34). and was proved not only to catalyze the correct formation of the D ring, but to also influence the final length of the nascent polyketide chain. A disruption of the otcDI gene in the oxytetracycline cluster leads to four truncated (by up to 10 carbons) shunt products. Within the ChdQI there are the highly conserved amino acids, which are according to the homologous cyclise/aromatase TcmN, responsible for the determination of the final length of the polyketide and for its proper regiospecific cyclisation and aromatization (Ames et al., 2008, PNAS; 105(14): 5349-5354). These amino acids are at positions Trp-32, Phe-36, Trp-69, Ser-71, Arg-73, Phe-92, Met-95 in Trp-99.

ChdQII

Interestingly, while ChdQI and ChdQII both align with OtcD1(or OxyK)—with 33% and 58% identity, respectively-, there is only 29% identity between the two of them. Interestingly as well is the fact that only chdQII shows a typical didomain architecture with N- and C-terminal halves having a reasonable similarity to each other. ChdQII is a bifunctional cyclase/aromatase that lies next to the ChdT ketoreductase, and is presumably the cyclase that is involved in D ring aromatisation. It has been previously suggested by Petkovié et al. (1999. J Biol. Chem. 274(46):32829-34) that there is a mandatory functional relationship between the OtcD1 cyclase/aromatase and the C-9 ketoreductase, since despite the lack of OtcD1, aromatic rings can still be synthesised. Similarly as in the case of ChdQI, there are the highly conserved amino acids at positions Trp-32, Phe-36, Trp-69, Ser-71, Arg-73, Phe-92, Met-95 in Trp-99. These are, according to the homologous cyclise/aromatase TcmN, responsible for the determination of the final length of the polyketide and for its proper regiospecific cyclisation and aromatization, either of the ring B or C (Ames et al., 2008, PNAS; 105(14): 5349-5354).

ChdX

The predicted protein is homologous to Oxyl and MtmX, both presumably involved in the formation of the final ring A in the biosynthesis of oxytetracycline and mitramycin, respectively (Lombo et al., 1996, Gene. 172(1):87-91; Zhang et al., 2006, J Nat. Prod. 69(11):1633-6).

ChdL

The deduced protein product of the chdL gene shows a profound amino acid sequence similarity (53% identity) to an acyl CoA ligase. Similarly to all the ORFs described (or identified) so far, this one also shows a high degree of similarity to one of the genes from the S. griseus subsp. griseus chromomycin and the S. argillaceus mithramycin gene clusters (Lombo et al., 1996. Gene. 172(1):87-91).

ChdMII

In accordance with the chemical structure of chelocardin, there are two methyltransferases within the chelocardin cluster, and both of their functions can be clearly resolved from the translated amino acid BLAST alignment.

The translated amino acid sequence of chdMII is most similar to the C-methyltransferases CmmMII and MtmMII of S. griseus subsp. griseus (chromomycin) and S. argillaceus (mithramycin), respectively (Lozano et al., 2000. J Biol. Chem. 275(5):3065-74; Rodriguez et al., 2004, J Biol. Chem. February 279(9):8149-58; Abdelfattah and Rohr, 2006. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 45(34):5685-9). The two methyltransferases methylate the aromatic C-9. Furthermore, there is no BLASTp identification of any of the genes for oxytetracycline since it does not contain a methyl group at C-9. From these analyses, there is a strong indication that chdMII codes for a methyltransferase that methylates the aromatic C-9 of chelocardin. Similarly as for ChdMI, ChdMII also shows a typical glycine-rich SAM-dependent methyltransferase motif (Y/DXGXGXG [SEQ ID NO:37]) that interacts with the SAM cofactor, which is used as a source for the methyl group (Martin and McMillan, 2002, Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol.; 12(6): 783-93).

ChdMI

The second methyltransferase within the chelocardin cluster is the C-6 methyltransferase. As expected, ChdL BLAST similarity search returns the OxyF methyltransferase from S. rimosus (with 65% identity) which methylates the C-6 of pretetramid in a reaction that yields 6-methyl-pretetramid (Zhang et al., 2006. J Nat. Prod. 69(11):1633-6). Moreover, this time there are no hits among any of the chromomycin or mithramycin cluster genes, since they do not have a methyl group at the C-6 position. Therefore, we presume that chdMI codes for C-6 methyltransferase.

ChdN

There is only one amino-group in the chemical structure of chelocardin and chdN is the only ORF that resembles an amidotransferase, according to the aa sequence analysis. It is most similar (52% identity) to the amidotransferase NocG from Nocardia uniformis subsp. tsuyamanensis, a producer of the monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic nocardicin A. The second closest hit, with 51% identity, is an aspartate/tyrosine/aromatic aminotransferase from S. fungicidicus (enduracidin), followed by aminotransferases from S. coelicolor (A3) 2 and many other different Actinomycetes species, such as Frankia sp. CcI3, Salinispora tropica, Amycolatopsis balhimycina, Nonomuraea sp. ATCC39727, etc. Although all these amidotransferases belong to a variety of different actinomycetes, they all share more than 49% identity with ChdN. Therefore, the gene chdN is an amidotransferase that catalyses the single amidation of chelocardin at the C-4.

ChdT

The protein product of chdT is most similar to oxyJ (S. rimosus), followed by simA6 from the simocyclinone gene cluster (S. antibioticus Tue6040) and aknA (S. galilaeus), all genes coding for ketoreductases. Moreover, the first 60 BLASTp hits return ketoreductases with more than 40% of identity to ChdT, so there is an aromatic PKS ketoreductase involved in the region-specific reduction of the C-9 carbonyl group of the nascent polyketide chain (Hopwood, 1997. Chem. Rev. 97:2465-2497). Two conserved domains can be found within the amino acid sequence of ChdT, namely GXGXXA (SEQ ID NO:38) and G-3X-G-X-G-3X-A-6X-G (SEQ ID NO:39), proposed to act as a NADPH-cofactor binding sites (Hopwood and Sherman, 1990, Annual Review of Genetics; 24:37-66; Rawlings and Cronan, 1992, J Biol. Chem.; 267(9): 5751-4).

ChdOI

The protein product of chdOI is similar to several monooxygenases, such as oxyE, cmmOI, and mtmOI. They all exhibit significant similarity to flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent monooxygenases involved in the hydroxylation of different polyketides. For OxyE it has been presumed by Zhang et al (1997. Chem. Rev. 97:2465-249). that this FAD-dependent monooxygenase is involved in catalyzing the C-5 oxidation of a 5a,11a-dehydrotetracycline to yield 5a,11a-dehydrooxytetracycline. But since there is a very high degree of similarity (66% identity) between ChdOI and OxyE, and no C-5 oxidation in the chelocardin (or mithramycin or chromomycin), there is a mistake in the current prediction for the function of the OxyE product. According to Abdelfattah and Rohr (2006. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 45(34):5685-9), MtmOI is responsible for hydroxylating the C4 of the premithramycinone that eventually becomes the O-atom in the l′-position of mithramycin. According to the conserved domain search the oxygenase belongs to the family of FAD-dependent monooxygenases, since at the N-terminal end of the protein there is a typical conserved sequence G-X-G-2X-G-3×-A-6X-G (SEQ ID NO:40, where X is any amino acid) involved in the FAD-cofactor binding (Mason and Cammack, 1992, Annu. Rev. Microbiol.; 46:277-305).

ChdOII

The product of chdOII is most similar to OxyL, followed by an oxygenase from S. rochei, MtmOII from S. argillaceus and CmmOII from S. griseus subsp. griseus oxygenases.

The inactivation of mtmOII generated a non-producing mutant strain which generated an unstable compound (Prado et al., 1999. Mol Gen Genet. 261(2):216-25). However, Abdelfattach and Rohr (2006. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 45(34):5685-9) provided a vague, indirect proof that the product of MtmOII is responsible for the epoxidation reaction either simultaneously with or shortly after the correct fourth cyclization to give the tetracyclic premithramycin framework, hence hydroxylating the C-12a of the polyketide. In the mithramycin biosynthesis, MtmOII is also involved in controlling the chain length of the growing polyketide as well as the correct region-specificity in the cyclisation step of the fourth ring. ChdOII is according to the conserved domain search also the oxygenase from the family of FAD-dependent monooxygenases, since at the N-terminal end of the protein there is a typical conserved sequence G-X-G-2X-G-3X-A-6X-G (SEQ ID NO:41, where X is any aminoacid) involved in the FAD-cofactor binding (Mason and Cammack, 1992, Annu. Rev. Microbiol.; 46:277-305).

ChdOIII

ChdOIII is a very short protein that shows similarity to oxygenase OxyG (S. rimosus), a small (11-kDa) quinine-forming oxygenase, possibly involved in the quinine formation of ring A in 4-keto-ATC. According to the conserved domain search, the ChdOIII is an ABM (Antibiotic Biosynthesis Monooxygenase) that does not contain an FAD binding site, neither are there any other prostetic groups, metal ions or cofactors needed for the molecular oxygen activaton.

ChdA

The product of the chdA gene is according to BLASTp most similar to a transcriptional regulator, namely the tetracycline repressor from the TetR family of proteins that are involved in the transcriptional control of multidrug efflux pumps, pathways for the biosynthesis of antibiotics, differentiation processes, etc. Since proteins of the TetR family have been found in 115 genera of gram-positive, alpha-, B-, and gamma-proteobacteria, cyanobacteria, and archaea (Ramos et al., 2005) it is not suprising that the BLAST hits return species from several genera, including the Burkholderia, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Aeromonas, etc.

ChdR

The ChdR protein codes for a multidrug efflux resistance protein from the EmrB/QacA subfamily. With 39% identity and 58% similarity it is most similar to the EmrB/QacA of Frankia alni, followed by Nocardia farcinica (with 35% identity, 55% similarity), and Salinispora arenicola (36% identity, 58% similarity). Since chelocardin's mechanism of action is supposedly different from the classical binding of tetracyclines to the 30S ribosomal subunit (Chopra I. 2004. Antimicrob Agents Chemother; 38(4):637-40), the mere presence of an efflux protein without the additional ribosomal protection mechanism should suffice the resistance requirements of the strain.

Within the chelocardin cluster (FIG. 4), two redundant genes are also present. The genes chdGIV and chdTn, coding for a glycosyltransferase and a transposase, respectively, could be an evolutionary remain of the horizontally transferred DNA fragment from a gene cluster of a glycosylated polyketide, such as chromomycin or mithramycin. The chdGIV gene product is most similar to the CmmGIV and MtmGIV glycosyltransferases of the chromomycin (Streptomyces griseus subsp. griseus) and mithramycin (Streptomyces argillaceus) producers. It is therefore also possible that A. sulphurea has a potential to produce glycosylated chelocardin analogues. However, to our knowledge, this has not yet been confirmed in the literature.

Example 10 Heterologous Expression Heterologous Hosts

A method for the heterologous expression of chelocardin in a substitute Actinomyces host is provided. The cloned genes for the biosynthesis of chelocardin have been expressed in heterologous hosts such as S. lividans TK24, S. rimosus 15883S, S. albus G148, and S. coelicolor A3(2), Amycolatopsis orientalis and Nocardia sp.

Culturing Conditions

Culture conditions were optimized for the expression of the chelocardin biosynthetic gene cluster. The following vegetative medium was used for inoculum preparation: 3 g soy flour, 0.2 g yeast extract, 1.5 mL glucose (50%), 1 g NaCl, 0.2 g CaCO3, tap water up to 200 mL. The inoculum was grown for 24 hours at 30° C. on a rotary shaker at 220 rpm. The following medium was used for production: 40 g soy flour, 10 g yeast extract, 4 g CaCO3, 1 g citric acid, 5 mL glucose (50%), tap water up to 1800 mL. The pH of the production medium was corrected to 7.0. For fermentation, 50 mL of production medium was inoculated with 5% inoculum in a 500 mL Erlenmayer flask and grown at 30° C. on a rotary shaker at 220 rpm for 7 days.

Extracting the Produced Chelocardin

50 mL of fermentation broth was acidified to pH 1-2 with HCl, saturated with NaCl, followed by two extractions with 25 mL of butanol. The extracts were vacuum-dried and subsequently resuspended in methanol to the desired concentration.

HPLC Analysis of the Product A reverse gradient HPLC method was devised that makes use of two standard mobile phases:

Mobile phase A (pH 2.75): 100 mL HPLC-grade acetonitrile, 10 mL of 1 M ammonium acetate solution and 1 mL of TFA were mixed in a total volume of 1 L, using HPLC-grade water.

Mobile phase B (pH 2.7): 100 mL HPLC-grade water, 10 mL of 1 M ammonium acetate and 1 mL of TFA were mixed in a total volume of 1 L, using HPLC-grade acetonitrile.

HPLC analysis was run on a 150 mm×4.6 mm Thermo-Hypersil C18-BDS reverse phase column with a silica particle size of 3 μm that has an in line short guard cartridge containing the same silica as the column but with a silica particle size of 5 μm. The generic HPLC gradient details are shown below:

Flow rate: 1 ml/min

Column oven temperature: 30° C.

UV wave-length analysis: 279 nm

Gradient conditions: T=0 min, 10% B; T=1 min, 10% B; T=25 min, 95% B; T=29 min, 95% B; T=29.5 min, 10% B; T=36 min, 10% B.

Bioassay on the Model Organism Microccocus luteus and Escherichia coli

The 0.5 mL HPLC fractions were collected every 30 seconds. Qualitative agar diffusion bioassay of the fractions was performed on petri dishes containing Micrococcus luteus and Escherichia coli as test strains. Sterile disks were impregnated with 20 μL of the collected fractions and incubated on the seeded 2TY agar for 24 hours at 37° C. The fractions that showed zones of inhibition were subjected to further NMR/MS analysis.

MS Analysis of the Product

An HPLC method was carried out to collect fractions of the extracts from cultures of heterologous expression hosts carrying the entire gene cluster encoding for chelocardin biosynthesis. Biological activities of the fractions were tested against Micrococcus luteus. The active fractions were subjected to further LC-MS/MS analysis which confirmed the presence of a molecule of m/z=412 that corresponds to a chelocardin molecule with a proton adduct. For the LC-MS/MS analyses, the Agilent 1100 series coupled with Watters Micromass Quattro micro detector were used together with the Gemini 3μ C18 110A (150×2.1 mm (Phenomenex, USA) column were used under the following running conditions:

Column temperature: 45° C.; Mobile phase A=0.05% trifluoroacetic acid—MilliQ water, B=acetonitrile; Flow: 0.24 ml/min; Gradient:

time (min) A (%) B (%) 0 80 20 13 10 90 15 10 90 15.1 80 20 20 80 20

Injection volume: 10 μL of sample

Detector conditions:

-   -   Ionisation: ESI+     -   Method: SIR

Dwell time: 0.1 s; Cone 20 V; Capillary 3.0 kV; Extractor: 3 V; Source temperature: 120° C.; Desolvation temperature: 350° C.; Cone gas flow: 30 L/h; Desolvation gas flow: 500 L/h; Multiplier: 650 V.

Example 11 Generation of C9-Demethyl Chelocardin Analogue

An in-frame chdMII gene inactivation experiment is performed, eliminating any possible polar effects on chdQI. Two PCR products (chdMIIa and chdMIIb) flanking the 402 nt (134 aa) sequence of chdMII are amplified using the primers (with restriction sites underlined):

chdMIIa-forward: (SEQ ID NO: 42, EcoRI restriction site) 5′-GAATTCCCACCGTCCACATAGGAAAG-3′, chdMIIa-reverse: (SEQ ID NO: 43, ZraI restriction site) 5′-GACGTCGTGATGATCACCAATGTGCTGC, chdMIIb-forward: (SEQ ID NO: 44, SfoI restriction site) 5′-GGCGCCCAGCTTCAACGACGGC-3′, chdMIIb-reverse: (SEQ ID NO: 45, EcoRI restriction site) 5′-GAATTCCGACCTCAGCGTCCACATC-3′.

The 1802 and 1282 bp products of chdMIIa and chdMIIb, respectively, are separately cloned into the SmaI linearized and dephosphorylated pUC19 and confirmed by sequencing. The EcoRI-ZraI chdMIIa and SfoI-EcoRI chdMIIb products are cloned simultaneously into the EcoRI linearized and dephosphorylated pIJ4026, creating the pIJ4026-chdMII402. The proper orientation of the both inserts is assured by the one-side blunt ends produced by the ZraI and SfoI restriction enzymes. The unaltered reading frame is confirmed after sequencing using the Vector NTO software. The plasmid pU4026-chdMII402 is inserted into the A. sulphurea chromosome by a single cross-over homologous recombination, and transformants were selected using erythromycin (50 μg/mL). Colonies that underwent a second crossover, hence shortening the wild type chdMII gene by 402 nt (134 aa), are chosen on the basis of the erythromycin-sensitive phenotype. The mutants with the truncated chdMII are confirmed by southern hybridisation using the chdMII gene as a probe. The chromosomal DNAs of the wild type A. sulphurea and the AchdMII mutants are digested with EcoRI. The AchdMII strains show a single hybridization signal at the expected 8,696 kbp in comparison with the two bands (of 7,580 and 1.518 kbp) of the wild type. Fermentation of the mutant strains, product extraction and the MS analysis are performed as described in the Example 10. The resulting molecule is a chelocardin with R7=H.

1) Position: R1: NH2 (otc homologue of OxyD (Zhang et. al., 2006, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72(4):2573-2580)

In this case, we would express oxyD gene from oxytetracycline gene cluster together with entire gene cluster encoding chelocardin biosynthesis.

Example 12 Generation of Amide-Derived Chelocardin Analogs Structure 1

To generate the amide-derived chelocardin analogue at the position R1, the intact oxyD gene (GenBank nucleotide sequence DQ143963, nucleotides from 3686 to 5524; Zhang et al., 2006, Appl. Environm. Microbiol.; 72(4):2573-2580) that is involved in the in malonamyl-CoA starter unit biosynthesis of the OTC was cloned into the phiC31/phiBT1/pSAM-based integrative vector and/or replicative vector under the act/erm/erm*promoter. After the transformation of the vectors, fermentation of the productive strains, product extraction and the MS analysis were performed as described above. The following structure is obtained:

Structure 2

Position: R2: —OH (inactivation of chdN (Zhang et. al., 2006, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72(4):2573-2580))

The inactivation of the chdN gene encoding C4-aminotransferase from chelocardin cluster should, according to the prior art, result in the presence of an OH-group at position C4.

Structure 3

Position: R2: N(CH3)₂ (co-expression with OxyT (Zhang et. al., 2006, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72(4):2573-2580)). In this case, we would express oxyT methyltransferase gene from oxytetracycline gene cluster together with entire gene cluster encoding chelocardin biosynthesis.

Structure 4

Position: R3: OH (otc co-expression OxyE and/or OxyL and/or OxyS and/or OxyG (Zhang et. al., 2006, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72(4):2573-2580), and Theriault et al., 1982, J. Antibiot March; 35(3):364-6.) In this case, we would express oxyE (or oxyL, or oxyS or oxyG) hydroxylase gene from oxytetracycline gene cluster together with entire gene cluster encoding chelocardin biosynthesis.

Structure 5

Position: R4: CH3 and OH (co-expression with OxyS (OtcC) (Peric-Concha et al., 2005, J. Biol. Chem.; 280(45):37455-60). and Theriault et al., 1982, J. Antibiot March; 35(3):364-6) or OxyE, or OxyL, or oxyG (Zhang et al., 2006, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72(4):2573-2580). In this case, we would express oxyS (otcC) or oxyE, or oxyL, or oxyG hydroxylase gene from oxytetracycline gene cluster together with entire gene cluster encoding chelocardin biosynthesis.

The stereochemistry of NH₂ in the opposite epimeric form has been described by (Theriault, 1982, J. Antibiot.; 35(3):364-6). The epimeric form of Structure 5 is previously unknown.

Structure 6

Position R4: H (inactivation of chdMI). (Zhang et. al., 2006, Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72(4):2573-2580) The inactivation of the chdMI gene encoding C6 methyltransferase from chelocardine cluster should, according to the available literature and our own results, result in the absence of a CH3-group at position C6.

Structure 7

Position R5: Cl (co-expression with chl (cts4) (Dairi et al, 1995, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 59(6):1099-106))

In this case, we would express chl gene catalysing chlorination at the position C7 from chlortetracycline gene cluster together with entire gene cluster encoding chelocardin biosynthesis.

Structure 8

Position R7: H (inactivation of chdMII)

The inactivation of the chdMII gene encoding C9 methyltransferase from chelocardin cluster should, according to the available literature data and our own results, result in the absence of a CH3-group at position C6.

Structure 9

Position OR: OCH3 (co-expression with tcmO (Summers et al., 1992, J. Bac.; 174:(6):1810-1820)

In this case, we would express tcmO gene from tetracenomycin gene cluster together with entire gene cluster encoding chelocardin biosynthesis.

The position of double bonds which would be altered after proposed modifications at carbons C4, C5 and C6 could not be defined precisely at this point due to possible spontaneous chemical rearrangement and/or possible tautomeric forms/isomers which can also influence the oxidative states of hydroxyl and keto groups at carbons 10, 11, 12 and carbon 1.

Structure 10

Using the minimum set of enzymes of the invention, the following tetracycline structure is obtained:

Example 13 Identification of Homologues

Using bioinformatic tools, the following homologues of genes of the invention were identified. Homologues shown in Table 3 can substitute the original genes/sequences in methods of the invention. The “% identity” is also given, as calculated with NCBI/BLAST algorithms (blastp and blastx). The BLAST search was performed against a non-redundant protein sequences database with the default general and scoring parameters (Altschul et al., 1990, J Mol Biol, 215, 403-10).

TABLE 2 gene homologue strain % identity chdP OxyA S. rimosus 77 chdK OxyB S. rimosus 73 chdS OxyC S. rimosus 59 chdQI cyclase - like protein Streptomyces sp. WP 33 4669 chdMII C9 - methyltransferase S. griseus subsp. griseus 44 chdN aminotransferase Frankia sp 51 chdOI OxyE - oxygenase S. rimosus 64 chdMI OxyF - C6 S. rimosus 65 methyltransferase chdOIII OxyG - oxygenase S. rimosus 58 chdL acyl-CoA ligase S. griseus subsp. griseus 54 chdX OxyI - cyclase S. rimosus 63 chdT OxyJ - ketoreductase S. rimosus 74 chdQII OxyK - cyclase S. rimosus 58 chdOII OxyL - oxygenase S. rimosus 56 

1. A compound having the structure

wherein R₁ is CH₃ or NH₂; R₂ is NH₂ or OH or N(CH₃)₂; R₃ is H or OH; R₄ is CH₃ or H or OH; R₅ is H or Cl; R₆ is H; R₇ is CH₃ or H; and OR is OH or OCH₃; wherein the compound is not chelocardin.
 2. A tetracycline compound of claim 1, wherein said compound has a structure selected from the group consisting of


3. Use of a compound of claim 1 for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections, treatment of malaria, a neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's, disease, periodontitis, an autoimmune condition, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, tumour invasion, cancer and inflammatory states.
 4. Use of a compound of claim 1 for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections.
 5. Use of a compound of claim 2 for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections, treatment of malaria, a neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's, disease, periodontitis, an autoimmune condition, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, tumour invasion, cancer and inflammatory states.
 6. Use of a compound of claim 2 for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections. 